Betsimasarka Mother and Child; Hova Woman
The Betsimisaraka are the second largest ethnic group in Madagascar. The Hova, or free commoners, were one of the three principal historical castes in the Merina Kingdom of Madagascar, alongside the Andriana (nobles) and Andevo (slaves). In the accompanying text, Ellis described how "The Hova women wear their hair plaited in extremely fine braids, and tied in a number of small knots or bunches all over the head. . . The Betsimasaraka women wear near their hair braided for two or three inches, and then arranged in a sort of circular mass or ball, two or three hanging down on each side" (p. 135). William Ellis (1794–1872) was an English missionary and author, who went to Madagascar on three occasions in the 1850s.
Image Title
Betsimasarka Mother and Child; Hova Woman
RegID
SI-OB-1046
Date
1850s
Title
Betsimasarka Mother and Child; Hova Woman
Source
William Ellis, Three visits to Madagascar during the years 1853-1854-1856 (New York, 1859; reprinted, Philadelphia, 1888), p. 161. (Copy in Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library)
Language
English
Item sets
Pre-Colonial Africa: Society, Polity, Culture
Spatial Coverage
Africa--Madagascar
Reproduced In
William Ellis, Three visits to Madagascar during the years 1853-1854-1856 (New York, 1859; reprinted, Philadelphia, 1888), p. 161.
Researchers
Jerome Handler; Michael Tuite; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May
Identifier
Ellis-161